7 patios around Denver where you can wine and dine year-round

Just because summer has ended doesn’t mean that patio season has, too.

When local restaurateurs were forced to get creative (or rather, survive) during the pandemic, Colorado cities and towns were introduced to a host of heated and covered outdoor dining options to keep the party going during the winter.

And, like working from home, year-round patio season is another (surprisingly pleasant) pandemic result that’s stuck around. In the city of Denver alone, 92 restaurants and bars have renewed their outdoor patio permits through April 2023, meaning we will once again be able to roam through closed streets and sit on sidewalk-side tables, tented patios and private dining structures.

Whether you want to watch the snow fall during dinner or just give your family a breath of fresh air, here is a list of seven year-round patios in and around Denver that are sure to make you feel like you’re in a snowglobe this season:

Corrida

Dine under the stars on Corrida’s rooftop in the Boulder restaurant’s three new Alpenglobes this winter. Expect family-style tapas, like tinned fish or caviar, beverage pairings and a three-course tasting menu, with options like a dry-aged American wagyu Coulotte steak for an entree, priced at $225 per person. The Spanish chophouse’s heated private shelters can seat up to eight people for 2 1/2 hours and are available for booking on OpenTable.

1023 Walnut St. Unit 400, Boulder; corridaboulder.com

Stoic & Genuine

Happy hours outside don’t have to end so soon because Stoic & Genuine’s partially heated and covered patio has got you covered this season. Slurp on some oysters or dig into a lobster roll as you watch the Union Station hustle and bustle at this downtown seafood restaurant. This is the perfect chef-driven spot for your winter lunch breaks or happy hour meetings, taking full advantage of Colorado’s 365 days of sun.

1701 Wynkoop St., Denver; stoicandgenuine.com 

Annette

Enjoy the fare from Denver’s newest James Beard award winner, chef Caroline Glover, at Annette in Stanley Marketplace. Three greenhouses, plus a yurt fit for a private meal with you and 14 of your closest friends, are available for dinner and brunch. To experience the yurt for the whole evening, you’ll have to order a minimum of $1,000 or $1,500 on the weekends in food and drinks, and the greenhouse reservations are call-ahead only.

2501 Dallas St. #108, Aurora; annettescratchtotable.com

American Elm

Guests at American Elm can pick out the soundtrack to their dinner in one of its nine heated greenhouses with Bluetooth speakers this holiday season, whether you’re a Christmas fanatic who needs your fill of Mariah Carey or a bah humbug who just likes to hog the aux cord. Enjoy elevated comfort food like a stacked Elm burger or creamy homemade cacio e pepe or, for happy hour, sip on some cocktails and nibble on snacks like deviled eggs or burrata fritters at this neighborhood eatery, which is perfect for a date night or cozy family meal. Each greenhouse seats five and can be reserved on Resy.

4132 W. 38th Ave., Denver; amelm.com

Ace Eat Serve

Get your blood flowing on a frigid winter night with a friendly game of ping pong on Ace Eat Serve’s heated patio. It’s fully enclosed with glass walls in case the temperatures drop, but still give you a glimpse of the sun. It also has two ping pong tables, in addition to the seven inside, to work up a sweat, plus standing heaters and two fire pits. If you’re still not warm enough, refuel with some dim sum or steamy bao buns.

501 E. 17th Ave., Denver; aceeatserve.com

The Family Jones Spirit House

Your wallet doesn’t have to suffer just to get under a fancy greenhouse this winter. If you’re just looking for a place to watch the Denver snow fall with a drink in your hand, head to The Family Jones Spirit House in LoHi, where they have five heated domes along the street outside of the distillery. Warm up with crowd favorites this winter, like their Earl Grey Hot Toddy or classic Old Fashioned, and reserve your dome, which seats up to five people, on OpenTable or by calling the restaurant ahead of time.

3245 Osage St., Denver; thefamilyjones.co